AMAs 2018: Taylor Swift Wins Artist Of The Year Award, Encourages Everyone To Vote In Midterm Elections [Winners List]

Taylor Swift encouraged fans to vote in the upcoming midterm elections as she took home the artist of the year award at the American Music Awards on Tuesday in Los Angeles. 

“This award and every single award given out tonight were voted on by the people, and you know what else is voted on by the people, the midterm elections on November 6,” Swift said. 

On Sunday, the singer-songwriter broke her silence on discussing anything political and announced that she would be voting for Tennessee’s Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen. 

Voting was a huge topic during the AMAs, as the host and Golden Globe-winning actress Tracee Ellis Ross wore a shirt that said, “I am a voter.” The comedian-actor Billy Eichner also told the audience, “the biggest election of our lifetime is happening.” 

Eichner then continued, “Please grab your friends and tell them to vote. Now is the time. If you believe in equality for women, for people of color, for the LGBTQ community. If you believe that climate change is real and that we need to do something about it.”

Swift kicked off the AMAs with a performance of last years song, “I Did Something Bad” and Cardi B picked up the first award of the night for favorite hip-hop/rap artist which she dedicated to her 4-month old daughter Kulture Kiari Cephus.

“I really want to thank my daughter,” Cardi B said, “I gotta prove people wrong. They said I wasn’t going to make it after I had a baby.”

The rapper also performed her No. 1 song, “I Like It,” where she was joined by J Balvin and Bad Bunny. Cardi B’s husband, Offset of rap group Migos, was seen dancing along in the audience with his group member Quavo as Cardi B gave her vibrant performance.

During the night, Migos also beat out Maroon 5 and Imagine Dragons by receiving the favorite pop/rock duo or group award, and Cardi B was seen happily screaming from the crowd. 

“We did not know we was winning this at all,” said group member Quavo, he also gave a shout-out to group member Takeoff, who didn’t attend the AMAs. Offset then gave a shout out to Cardi B, ”I want to thank you sexy lady,” he said. 

Rising newcomer Ella Mai also gave a performance to her hit-song “Boo’d Up” and won over the crowd, Khalid, Quavo and Offset were seen dancing while others sang along and recorded the performance on their phones.

R&B singer Ciara was also noted for her performance in which she showed off her dance moves and was joined by Missy Elliot. Other artists who performed at the award show, includes Carrie Underwood, who won favorite country female artist, Camila Cabello, who won new artist of the year award, Post Malone, who won favorite pop/rock male artist, Khalid, who took home favorite soul/R&B male artist, and Kane Brown, who picked up favorite country male artist. 

Other performers included Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Shawn Mendes, and Twenty One Pilots.

The AMAs ended with a tribute to Aretha Franklin, who died in August. Gladys Knight, Ledisi, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, and CeCe Winans all participated in the tribute to the Queen of Soul and her iconic album, “Amazing Grace.”

Rapper-singer XXXTentacion, who was fatally shot in June, was also honored during the award show. He won favorite soul/R&B album for his 2017 debut, “17.” His mother, Cleopatra Bernard accepted the award on his behalf, “I’m so nervous,” she said. 

Read below to see the full list of winners at the 2018 American Music Awards.

Artist of the Year:
Drake
Imagine Dragons
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift *WINNER*

Favorite Female Artist Pop/Rock:
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Taylor Swift *WINNER*

Favorite Male Artist Pop/Rock:
Drake
Post Malone *WINNER*
Ed Sheeran

Favorite Duo/Group Pop/Rock:
Imagine Dragons
Maroon 5
Migos *WINNER*

Favorite Song Pop/Rock:
Camila Cabello, “Havana” *WINNER*
Drake, “God’s Plan”
Ed Sheeran, “Perfect”

Favorite Album Pop/Rock:
Drake, Scorpion
Ed Sheeran, ÷ (Divide)
Taylor Swift, reputation *WINNER*

Favorite Female Artist Country:
Kelsea Ballerini
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood *WINNER*

Favorite Male Artist Country:
Kane Brown *WINNER*
Luke Bryan
Thomas Rhett

Favorite Duo/Group Country:
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line *WINNER*
Lanco

Favorite Song Country:
Kane Brown, “Heaven” *WINNER*
Dan + Shay, “Tequila”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, “Meant to Be”

Favorite Album Country:
Kane Brown, Kane Brown *WINNER*
Luke Combs, This One’s for You
Thomas Rhett, Life Changes

Favorite Artist Rap/Hip-Hop:
Cardi B *WINNER*
Drake
Post Malone

Favorite Male Artist Soul/R&B:
Khalid *WINNER*
Bruno Mars
The Weeknd

Favorite Album Rap/Hip-Hop:
Drake, Scorpion
Lil Uzi Vert, Luv Is Rage 2
Post Malone, beerbongs & bentleys *WINNER*

Favorite Song Rap/Hip-Hop:
Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow” *WINNER*
Drake, “God’s Plan”
Post Malone, “Rockstar”

Favorite Album Soul/R&B:
Khalid, American Teen
SZA, CTRL
XXXTentacion, 17 *WINNER*

Favorite Artist Adult Contemporary:
Shawn Mendes *WINNER*
P!nk
Ed Sheeran

Favorite Female Artist Soul R&B:
Ella Mai
Rihanna *WINNER*
SZA

Favorite Song Soul/R&B:
Khalid, “Young Dumb & Broke”
Ella Mai, “Boo’d Up”
Cardi B & Bruno Mars, “Finesse” *WINNER*

Favorite Soundtrack:
Black Panther *WINNER*
The Greatest Showman
The Fate of the Furious

Favorite Artist EDM:
The Chainsmokers
Marshmello *WINNER*
Zedd

Favorite Social Artist:
BTS *WINNER*
Cardi B
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Shawn Mendes

Favorite Music Video:
Camila Cabello, “Havana” *WINNER*
Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow”
Drake, “God’s Plan”

Collaboration of the Year:
Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug, “Havana” *WINNER*
Post Malone featuring 21 Savage, “Rockstar”
Bruno Mars & Cardi B, “Finesse”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, “Meant to Be”
Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey, “The Middle”

New Artist of the Year:
Camila Cabello *WINNER*
Cardi B
Khalid
Dua Lipa
XXXTentacion

Favorite Artist Contemporary Inspirational:
Lauren Daigle *WINNER*
MercyMe
Zach Williams

Favorite Artist Latin:
J Balvin
Daddy Yankee *WINNER*
Ozuna

Favorite Artist Alternative Rock:
Imagine Dragons
Panic! At The Disco *WINNER*
Portugal. The Man

Tour of the Year:
Taylor Swift *WINNER*
Beyonce & JAY-Z
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
U2

Watch the video below to learn more about Taylor Swift breaking her silence on political subjects.